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First Look: Gabi, the All-Day French Café From the Bistro La Minette Crew

Steak tartare, moules frites, creme brulee and other no-fuss classics for everyday eating.

By Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé· 11/4/2019, 9:53 a.m.

Croque Madame and Vegetable Tartine at Gabi | Photo by Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme

On Monday, November 4th, the team from Bistrot La Minette opens their trés French all-day café, called Gabi, at 339 North Broad Street.

The team — Peter Woolsey, Brad Histand and Kenneth Bush — was inspired several years ago by their travels to France to create a restaurant that would mimic those they loved in France — comfortable, no-fuss, with food that you want to eat every day.

Executive Chef Kenneth Bush’s menu focuses on mainstays of classic French bistros — a chevre chaud salad of fresh mixed greens topped with goat cheese-slathered baguette toasts, a simple duck confit served with orange sauce, and rich and comforting croque madame and monsieur. For now, Gabi will be open daily for lunch and dinner, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with additional dinner entrees becoming available at 5 p.m. Brunch will be served on the weekends starting at 10 a.m. Breakfast hours will be added in the next few weeks.

Gabi also has a full bar, serving classic French cocktails, a variety of French liqueurs, aperitifs and digestifs, plus a variety of beer and wine, French and otherwise. House wine will be available by the glass, in 375 ml. carafes, or by the bottle at an affordable price (a lovely French tradition we’d love to see at more Philly restaurants.) The dessert menu is stacked with rich, crowd-pleasing classics like chocolate mousse, creme brûlée and chocolate cake, all served in generous, shareable portions.

The space hits a surprisingly pleasant middle ground between casual American diner and French luxury, with a hint of Gatsby-esque twenties luxury thrown in for good measure. For a first look at the menu and space, scroll down.